Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2016 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon is a show-stopping wine from winemaker Steve Levesque. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot with the core fruit sourced from a barrel selection from the Sacrashe Vineyard. Simply captivating, this opens to inviting aromas of ripe dark currants and blueberry compote that collide with violets, tar and shades of sweet pipe tobacco that all sing in the glass. On the palate this is soft and plush, with beautifully round polished tannins and a gorgeous seamless quality, as well as wonderful weight that truly entices. It continues to deliver layers complex flavors including blueberry compote, leather, mocha, creosote and shades of Asian spices that all build up to the long multidimensional finish. While a delight in its youth, the 2016 'Katheryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon should also go on to provide enjoyment for twenty years. Drink 2020-2038- 97 — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

After trying this, I was informed that this one had been slow-oxing for 3 days! Soft quality with very rounded edges. Red and black fruits here get you right in the front with a dried nut character. Plum, pipe tobacco, a little foresty in the middle. Finishes with a lot of elegance but still has enough grip and pepper that it would go very well with really just about any food or fare. If this wine is drinking this well after 3 days, it still has a ton of life left! — 6 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

Martijn

9.5

Rain, hail, 7 degrees Celsius in May. Time for some fire and toro wine! Some iberico ham and bang we are back in Spain. Purple red. Almost black in the middle. Big nose: figue, almondpaste, hay, cedarwood, pipe tobaco, chocolate. Wow in the mouth. Big Bold taste which finishes over the minute. — 6 years ago

Ara Aslanian

9.5

Beautiful nose; pipe tobacco, leather, earthy. Long finish. — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A wonderful tasting put on by Classic Wine Storage featuring Long Shadows Winery. If you aren’t familiar with these wines, they are phenomenal WA state wines that are made by the likes of Randy Dunn, Phillipe Melka, Michel Rolland, John DuVall, and more.

This wine is made by Michel Rolland. Large and in charge merlot. Mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, and a lot of ripe blackberry. Nutmeg and cinnamon. Cab lovers merlot. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.3

Gave off a lot of brett at first....then that subsided and Blue and Black fruits spread out on the palette, followed by cherry pipe tobacco and sweet fig. Fantastic slow aging value Rioja. — 7 years ago

K. Ross

8.9

16.2% abv. Brown ruby color. Very clear. Long legs. Fig jam. Blueberry jam. Warm. Blueberries chocolate. Rich. It gets more and more like a Zin I know. Rich, heavy, and luscious. More fresh and juicy in the beginning. — 9 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.2

The sweet smoke of a pipe and the deep dark depths of a plum jam and cranberry sauce. #vegasicilia — 9 years ago

Alexandre Calvi

9.5

Sweet pipe tobacco, black currant, green peppers, violets, medium body, well balanced ruby core with a red brick rim, at his peak now! — 9 years ago

David Sawatzky

8.9

Sweet and tasty, nice after dinner treat. — 11 years ago

Alina Ferguson

10

Damn good! Need to make a run up north again! :D — 11 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

Just concluded our annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

60% Zinfandel, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, for the 2005 vintage blend. This label features Redhead ducks, which we have commonly seen occupying our beachfront, not this year unfortunately.
Nose has vanilla bean, pipe tobacco, ripe cherry, ripe blackberry, prune (light) and over-ripe plum.
Palate has rich blackberry & cherry, oak plank, chalk (light), dried strawberry, ripe plum and raisin (light).
Beautifully long finish and tannins are long gone; this bottle is at the end of its life, also our last bottle of this vintage. Always interesting to see how long they will hold. The labels have always been a favorite of ours. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2010 ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza Rioja is a compelling blend of 65% Tempranillo, and 25% Garnacho, with equal parts Mazuelo and Graciano. This single vineyard Rioja opens with an intense bouquet of sandalwood with pipe tobacco, leather and red fruits that align with the citrus zest and peat moss undertones. The palate revels in its silky texture and soft mouthfeel. Generous red fruits dance with exotic spices, and shades of orange infused black truffle on this exotic palate. Marvelous now at the nine year mark, the 2010 ‘Vina Cubillo’ will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2019-2029- 92 — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.7

Heck of a hosting by @Weston Eidson last night for the City Club wine group. All wines were tasted blind.

Cerebral and spectacular. Best Bordeaux I’ve had. A stunning showing at 19yrs young. I called this early 2000s Bordeaux but actually thought it was Right Bank...there is a gorgeous medley of soft and ripe dark blue and black fruit here. Not juicy, but more floral and expressive. Palate was lifted with fantastic structure and softened tannins (thanks to 4hrs in the decanter). Pipe tobacco but hardly any herbal or leather notes. The softness of this wine is what made it a star. Flavor without being dense. Co WOTN. — 6 years ago

with joe, Dan and 2 others

Michael Tuchband

9.5

Mellow structure, flavors of dark cherry, pipe tobacco, and pepper. — 7 years ago

with Edith and Moné

LM Segal

9.9

BBQ smoke, hot espresso beans, black cherry paste lead a lifted and broad, completely integrated beam of burnt strawberry, pipe tobacco and dark cassis. 60 second finish was interfered only with an imperative to go back for more. Fully resolved and at its peak, cork on the verge of danger. Unreal. — 7 years ago

Beau Carson

9.2

Spectacular, and worked perfectly with teriyaki and pork chops. Mocha, pipe tobacco, black cherry, rich, and nice dusty tannins. — 8 years ago

Bill Trier

9.0

Paid euros Galway restaurant called the Quay wine bar. The wine was superb . — 9 years ago

Andres Montoya

9.2

Elegant, dried flower, eucalyptus, sweet pipe smoke, dark chocolate. — 9 years ago

with Martonio, Alex and 1 other

Jordan Monkman

10

Some of that dank Bordeaux funk! Blueberry pie, plum, pipe tobacco, leather. Smells like this will keep showing more layers over the next couple hours. — 11 years ago

Eddie Gilbert

10

phucking phenomenal! crushed gravel, purple flowers and pipe tobacco are all on full display. just another day at the office. — 11 years ago

Shay A

9.1

A few days late in posting the Wednesday Wine Committee wines. Standard format with 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert wine. All served blind.

Nice to revisit this from earlier in the year. Out of the flight, I found this to be the most aged. Integrated. Dusty and underripe black cherries on the nose with herbs. Cherry pipe tobacco, bayleaf and leather on the palate with a fading structure. Drink up. I guessed early ‘90s left bank Bordeaux. — 6 years ago

with Dan, Will and 1 other

Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine group night. Our theme was American oak vs French oak. All wines tasted blind. We started off with two bottles of bubbly and finished with two non-themed reds.

Posting my review from a few months back as my experience was the exact same.

Very ripe and integrated. Full spectrum of red and black fruit, cassis, pipe tobacco and worn saddle leather on the nose. Structure was still very solid with plenty of tannins at the finish to keep this upright. Round on the palate...dark cocoa dusted dates, roasted plum, cardamom and muddled raspberries. Drinking really well but will probably hold in this window for a few years. — 6 years ago

with Jack, Mark and 4 others

Shay A

9.3

Monthly WTF guys blind tasting group. This month was our annual, and famed, Left Bank vs Right Bank theme. All wines served blind as usual. Started off with a Rosé and a champagne. Great night.

Another very good wine. Super soft. Tastes more modern in style. Ripe. Mixed berry pie, chocolate covered cherry cordials and pipe tobacco notes. Balances fruit and savory notes. With an extended decant, this is very enjoyable now, but will get better. I called this ‘14 Left Bank. Thanks @Colby Siratt . — 6 years ago

with Andrew, Jack and 6 others

Christopher Fowler

9.0

Dark chocolate on the nose. Medium body. Sweet tobacco and ripe fruit on the palate. — 6 years ago

with Tricia and Michael

Christopher Fowler

9.0

Medium/light body. Enough tannin to give it a backbone. This one's a treat. — 7 years ago

with Linda and Michael

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is a sample of the 16 Insignia still in barrel.

On the nose, the dark fresh florals exploded. The fruits are very dark currants and well extracted. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries and blue fruits hues on the edges of the glass. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, core of anise and fields of violets.

The body is thick and full. The wine still very fresh. The tannins big, meaty and chewy. The dark fruits are quite floral. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries with blue fruits. Sweet tarry presence, loads of baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark spice, black tea, pipe tobacco, dark rich soil, crushed dry rocks, river stones, tough leather, cedar, core of anise with red flowers and fields of violets. Very good round acidity. The long, big, ruby, lush, well balanced finish is beautiful.

The fruit, tannins and acidity all speak to it being 95+ and a long cellar.
— 7 years ago

Matthew Beninati

9.3

Solid purchase from 90 +. Strong vanilla coffee and pipe tobacco. Finishes remarkably smooth for such a young cab. Will probably be better in 5 years, but this does not disappoint now. — 9 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.5

Fragrant cherry pipe tobacco aromas meld into flavors of black and red fruit, leather and cedar. Smooth and supple. — 10 years ago

with Yashar and Michael

Ian Burrows

Sommelier Atelier Crenn

9.0

Ripe Red Cherry & sour plum, fennel fronds, pipe tobacco, subtle black truffle and smoke. — 11 years ago